Ending April

I'm not sure why we have suddenly broken our good record of weekly posts.  We have had plenty to write about, which will not now be documented.  Not to worry though - you did not miss out on this:

We had earlier finished a huge Easter dinner, and most of us could barely walk we were so full.  When I went to join Doug for scripture study before bed, he was all ready with his evening treat.  It was huge.  He said it was to celebrate him losing 10 pounds while he has been sick.

 Just so you know we celebrated Easter, and had a few guests 

for an after-meeting dinner celebration.

We cooked Robin's turkey.

The Durtches, Bob and Lynette and our friend Robin

Robin wanted us to have this tray in her memory - you know birds for Robin
and flowers because she loves to garden.

Missionary Efforts
Suddenly everything seems to be busier.  The weeks are slipping by.  We are finding it harder to fit everything in.  Does that happen to everyone in their last few weeks?  We have received many referrals for our area.  Usually the young missionaries handle them, but they have been low on mileage this month, so have given us those that are in the outlying towns.  We usually go to less active members, so it has been quite an adventure for us to meet people that know little or nothing about the church.  Most have requested bibles, or more information.  Out of the three we saw Friday in Sandersville, 40 miles SE, all wanted us to come back and continue the conversation.  We are excited to share with them the things that we know make for happiness and peace.  We worry though that they have to come so far to attend our meetings.  We wish they could have a group in their area again.

We have five to see in Sparta 45 min east of here, Several in Eatonton 45 miles north, and four in Gordon/Ivy - small towns 30 miles west.

We are also doing apartment checks with the young Elders and Sisters this week.  We have two more to do.  It is fun to feel their testimonies and their enthusiasm for the work in their areas.  About an hour NW of us, in Forsyth, they have started a new branch.  It has been a lot of work to pull everything together.  So far they have had three Sunday Block meetings, and this week they had 40 in attendance.  One young Sister has stayed in the area for seven months to provide continuity, and one Young Assistant to the President extended his mission for a transfer to help provide leadership and teach all the new contacts.  Each had companions just new from the Mission Home, so they were also training.  They have given amazing strength, and the new missionaries feel it has been such a blessing to have started their missions in such a demanding situation.

What a joy it is to see such enthusiasm and dedication!

First World Wide Women's Meeting

Saturday Pre-Conference Broadcast from SLC

For those who don't know, this was the first time that Primary girls 8 and older, YW, and Relief Society Women have ever come together for the same directions and words of inspiration.  I have always loved the Women's meeting - for the feeling of sisterhood it brings knowing that women all over the world are gathered, hearing the same message and loving and caring about each other.  It is good to be reminded that we are all unique, beloved daughters of our Heavenly Father, and as such we need to help each other find and walk on the covenant path back to his presence.  I have also been grateful to think that many of the women in our own family are in attendance somewhere, feeling that spirit that brings a special bond of unity.  I loved it that some of you texted just as you were leaving the meeting, to let us know that you felt it too.

This time, I did not have anyone to take with me - or rather the ones that were planning to come with me backed out in the last half hour, so it was too late to invite someone else.  I had mentioned in passing, to the YW,  that I usually came with at least one of my daughters.  As the broadcast progressed,  I felt this tiny 12 year old hand periodically coming from the row behind, to give me a little shoulder hug.  "I can be your daughter tonight", she whispered.  It was very sweet, especially with the message of the evening that no matter what our circumstances, where we live, our age, our needs, we can reach out and help and lift one another.  Even if there is no family near by, no matter where we visit or live, we will always have sisters we can depend on.  What a comforting feeling!

Transfers!!
Everyone sets their cameras, except for us because we don't know how.  We have to rely on the good old I Phone, which means one of us is always missing from the group photos.  Our District will stay the same for the next 6 weeks, except for Elder Cawley leaving - 2nd from the right.  The new missionary coming, Elder Kelly will be the new District Leader.  Maybe I'll wait for him to arrive before we post.

From left:  Elder Loper, Elder Wilkins, Elder Cawley, Elder Heiner
Elder Castleton

From left Sister Hathaway, Sister Bradford, Sister Castleton, Elder Wilkins
Elder Loper (in back), Elder Cawley, Elder Heiner.

Dublin Doings

This is the beautiful Dogwood tree in Corine's yard,
just across the street from the Dublin Chapel.

Sister Porter is being transferred from Dublin, so we had our last P-day dinner with these Sister missionaries and Mildred.  We thought maybe we should go somewhere special, but Mildred said that this was no time to break tradition so . . .  guess where we went!

From left:  Sister Castleton, Sister Porter,  Sister Snyder,
Mildred (who is lots of fun, but never smiles for the pictures.

 Sister Porter has been in Dublin for three transfers.  This has been her only area, so she is nervous about going somewhere else.  Mildred feels like she has been watching out for her, so she is also a bit apprehensive about the move as well.  We told her that there are many amazingly mature young sisters in our mission, who will help her along, until she becomes seasoned herself.

Usually there are just the three of us.
It has given us the opportunity to talk about
life and the Gospel in a more casual setting.

We counted fourteen deer grazing at the side of the road coming home in the dusk this week.  That is our record for our Dublin excursions.

Missionary Moments
Also, before we left for Dublin, we were having our windshield replaced, right outside our door.  Doug got talking to the installer about the church and the restoration.  The man who installed it was part Native American, and was really interested in the Book of Mormon - that Christ had visited here as well as in the Holy Land.  He wanted a Book of Mormon, and gave us his address and phone number so missionaries could visit him and his Father.  Doug apologized for extending the time on his installation.  The man said that it was Ok; he felt that he had been sent to do our installation for a special reason.  He lives in a neighboring mission.  We hope they will be good about following up and teaching him.